ITMI20091249A1 - APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN GASEOUS AND ENERGY GENERATION SYSTEM USING THE APPARATUS - Google Patents

Description

â € œEquipment for the production of gaseous hydrogen and energy generation system using the apparatus â €

Technical field of invention

The present invention relates to the production techniques of gaseous hydrogen and in particular the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water. Particularly, but not limitingly, the present invention relates to the production of gaseous hydrogen to be used as fuel.

Known technique

The production of gaseous hydrogen from water, in order to obtain fuel, appears to be an extremely interesting opportunity given the large availability of water in comparison with other types of fuel.

Water electrolysis is the most common technique for separating hydrogen from oxygen. Nonetheless, the high electrical power required by electrolysis led to the search for other hydrogen production techniques.

In this regard, the document by Fausto Elisei et al. â € œProduction of hydrogen from water by photolysis assisted by innovative photocatalystsâ €, (Eighth National Congress CIRIAF - Atti (Perugia 4-5 April 2008) describes the use of a technique based on photolysis and also refers to an experimental sonophotolysis plant.

Brief summary of the invention

The Applicant has observed that the gaseous hydrogen production methods of the known art are not satisfactory, both in terms of efficiency and in terms of practical feasibility of a corresponding apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for the production of gaseous hydrogen from water as an alternative to those of the known art and which, for example, overcomes the limitations of the techniques currently known.

The present invention therefore relates to an apparatus for producing gaseous hydrogen from water as described in claim 1 and by its preferred embodiments described in dependent claims 2-8.

The invention also relates to an energy generation system as defined by claim 9 and by a particular embodiment thereof described by claim 10.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment and its variants, provided by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a section, according to a longitudinal plane, of a first stage of an example of a gaseous hydrogen production apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a section, according to a longitudinal plane, of an example of a second stage of said apparatus for producing gaseous hydrogen;

FIG. 3 schematically shows an energy generation system which uses said hydrogen production apparatus.

Detailed description

FIGS. 1 and 2 show, respectively, and in section a first stage 100 and a second stage 200 of an apparatus or reactor for the production of gaseous hydrogen, made according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

The first stage 100 comprises a container 1 provided with one or more inlets for the water. For example, the container 1 is made of steel and in particular of AISI 361 L steel and can have a thickness of one millimeter. The inlets for the water are preferably made by means of a first group of electro-injectors 2 and an optional second group of electro-injectors 3. These electro-injectors are advantageously of the low pressure type and provide for nebulising the incoming water on a plurality of jets (for example, four jets). According to a particular example, the inlet pressure varies from 1 Bar to 5 Bar. The first group of electro-injectors 2 is controlled asynchronously with respect to the second group of electro-injectors 3 by an electronic control unit (not shown) which also provides cyclical regulation of the injection times.

The first stage 100 is also provided, at a first end, with an acoustic wave generator 4 suitable for investing with acoustic waves the water that comes out in nebulized form from the electro-injector units 2 and 3, to produce sonolysis. In particular, the acoustic wave generator 4 takes the form of an ultrasound transducer.

According to an example, this ultrasonic transducer 4 comprises nine circular piezoelectric actuators with a diameter between 5 and 45 millimeters in SONOX P4 or PZT ceramic with nebulization capacity between 500 ml / h and 2000 ml / h, controlled with a power between 2 and 50 Watts and modulated with a frequency between 15 kHz and 35 kHz. It should be noted that the ultrasound transducer is able to generate a phenomenon of cavitation of the water, transforming it into â € œcoldâ € steam with operating temperatures between 30 and 80 ° C.

According to the example shown in FIG. 1, a heating device 6 is included in a peripheral chamber 5 (of tubular shape) of the container 1, such as, in particular, an induction heater, comprising an electrical winding 7 (for example made of copper) wound on a core 8. The induction heater 6 is such as to operate at a frequency between 100 kHz and 260 kHz on a soft iron core 8 which heats up by inductive effect to 700-800 ° C consuming 400/500 Watts. The heater 6 has the task of vaporising the water and transforming it into dry steam.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG.

1, a source of electromagnetic radiation 11, configured to cause photolysis, is arranged inside the peripheral chamber 5 near the ultrasonic transducer 4.

The source of electromagnetic radiation 11 advantageously comprises a laser, for example, in solid state and with power used from 5 mW to 200 mW and an emission wavelength between 200 nm and 880 nm and which therefore operates , even in the visible field.

A central region of the container 1 is equipped with an electrolytic generation device 9 (ie a device suitable for causing electrolysis). This device 9 is advantageously of high efficiency and comprises a plurality of electrolytic cells 10, for example in high voltage (HT) which cause electrolysis in the vapor which passes through them in expansion and acceleration. According to a preferred case, these electrolytic cells 10 are made of nickel and tungsten and are formed by a plurality of reticulated meshes of nickel, tungsten carbide and tungsten. The electrolytic cells 10 are powered, for example, by a direct voltage ranging from 50 V up to a maximum of 4000 V. The electrolytic generation device 9 contributes to the transformation of the vapor into an HHO mixture (i.e. Brown's gas ) and the creation of ionized vapor.

Preferably, the first stage 100 is also provided with a recovery duct 15 which opens inside the container 1 such as, for example, an AISI 316L steel tube controlled by a proportional valve (not shown) for the recovery of the exhaust / unburnt gases of an engine and subsequently used for the stoichiometric enrichment and preheating of the grids 10. The first outlet 12, which connects to the second stage 200, causes the gaseous mixture HHO and the ionized vapor to form in the first stage 100 they access the second stage 200.

The second stage 200 (FIG. 2) comprises a relative container 13, for example, similar (also for materials) to the container 1 described above. An inlet 14 of the second stage 200 is connected to the first outlet 12 of the first stage 100.

Advantageously, a further heating device 16 is arranged in the inlet port 14, comprising, for example, an induction heater, provided with a relative core 17 and a respective winding 18. According to an example, the induction heater 16 operates at a frequency between 100 kHz and 260 kHz on a soft iron core 17 which heats up by inductive effect to 200-400 ° C consuming 200 Watts. The task of this heater 16 is to heat the gas after the electrolytic cells 10 and bring it back to temperature.

Inside a chamber 19 of the second stage 200 there is a plurality of flow separator elements 20 (for example, AISI 316L steel bars) constructed to suitably channel the gas.

A plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources are fixed to the edges of the chamber 19 including, according to the example, discharge lamps 22 and / or at least one LED device 21. The discharge lamps 22 are, for example, discharge bulbs operating at a frequency that varies between 200 and 600 Hz with a wavelength between 200 and 680 nm, driven with a power of 50 Watts. For example, LED 21 is a UV (ultraviolet) device with an output of 250-400 nm from 60 mW. The flow separator elements 20 force the gas to pass in proximity to the radiation sources 21 and 22.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second stage 200 is also provided with a polarizer / magnetic separator device. According to a particular example, this polarizer / magnetic separator device comprises two magnets 23 (N and S) facing each other (for example, made of Ni-Cu-Ni alloy) capable of providing a magnetic energy of 40 N and a of attraction of 100 Kg. To these magnets 23 are connected field diffusers 27 constructed, for example, in magnetic steel (for example, in AISI 314L).

In accordance with a particular example, the second stage 200 is also provided with a suction duct 24 which allows the suction from the outside of ethyl comburent, gaseous or ionized vapor for the supply to be supplied to a output 26 and to be used for starting the engine to which the hydrogen gaseous production apparatus and stoichiometric maintenance / enrichment are connected until the engine operating temperatures are reached.

The suction duct 24 is operatively associated with an ionizing plasma generator 25 which allows to ionize the vapor or comburent that passes through the suction duct 24. The plasma generator 25 allows to ionize the gaseous / liquid fuel, with a voltage of about 20,000 V with negative polarity and a frequency operating between 3000 Hz and 19000 Hz.

The second stage 200 is then provided with outlet 26 to supply the hydrogen present in the Brown HHO gas and hybrid gas or comburent to the engine. In some applications, ethyl alcohol mixed with ionized vapor or in some cases where Propane, Butane or Methane gas is present could be used.

In operation, the atomized water is introduced through the electro-injectors 2 and 3 inside the container 1 of the first stage 100. The ultrasound transducer 4 is activated in such a way as to generate acoustic waves causing a oscillating cavitation phenomenon. It should be observed that the vibrations transmitted by the ultrasound transducer 4 cause in the water molecule phenomena of stretching, plane deformation and internal rotation. The nebulized water undergoes, thanks to the oscillating cavitation, a first action of sonolysis which causes the formation of hydrogen, and in particular of Brown's gas (HHO) at low temperature.

Brown's gas (also known as â € œoxidrogenâ €) is, as is known, a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gas typically in the atomic ratio of 2 to 1, the same as water.

With reference to combustion, Brown's gas exploits the atoms and not the molecules and the flame that arises in the event of combustion manages to vaporize the substances that are placed in front of it because it interacts with the substance of the object it is treating. While developing a heat of 130 ° C, Brown's gas manages to vaporize the tungsten which melts at about 6,000 ° C, does not emit harmful radiation and its flame can be viewed without protective masks; It is odorless and does not harm if inhaled, it does not run out of oxygen near the flame because it derives from this. Hydrogen gas burns (turning into water vapor and releasing the energy that sustains the reaction) when it is brought to its self-ignition temperature.

This vapor which resides in the peripheral chamber 5 is also affected by the emissions of the laser 11 which, thanks to a phenomenon of photolysis, further increases the production of hydrogen and in particular of Brown's gas.

The gas mixed with steam then undergoes heating thanks to a heat exchange with the core 8, which is heated by the winding 7 reaching, for example, a temperature of about 700-800 ° C. According to one example, this heating contributes to the creation of hydrogen and Brown's gas due to a pyrolysis effect. The gaseous expansion that is created thanks to this heating allows the treated fluid to reach the area where the grids 10 are located.

The grids 10 are preheated to a suitable temperature by the exhaust gas coming from the engine and brought inside the container 1 by means of the recovery pipe 15.

The potential difference (increasing towards the first outlet 12) applied to the grids 10 causes electric discharges which cause a further separation of the hydrogen (electrolysis, in this case) in the treated fluid. For example, the potential difference varies longitudinally from 50 V up to 4000 V in order to compensate for the lower conductivity of the fluid near the first outlet 12. The grids 10 also contribute to accelerate the gas (HHO and steam) which passes through.

The treated fluid then reaches the first outlet 12 and enters the second stage 200. The second stage 200 has the task of keeping the HHO gas separated and stored. The further induction heater 16 increases the temperature of the fluid present in the inlet 14, preferably causing pyrolysis. For photopyrolysis inside the chamber 19, the LEDs 21 and the discharge lamp 22 (which emits, for example, a light at a power of 50W with an internal temperature of 1200 ° C) act on the fluid helping to keep it in the form of Brown's gas.

According to a preferred embodiment, the discharge lamp 22 emits at a wavelength between 220 nm and 550 nm, more preferably, this lamp emits at a wavelength between 240 nm and 280 nm. The best results were obtained for emission wavelengths of approximately 260 nm.

The magnetic separators 23 keep the oxygen separated from the hydrogen and the Brown's gas is enriched with ionized vapor thanks to the action of the plasma generator 25 and the suction tube 24. The plasma generator 25 causes a process plasma in high voltage (HT) and, for example, operates at a frequency between 3 Khz and 19 Khz with negative polarization from 20,000 V. The Brown gas thus obtained constitutes an ionized gas suitable to be supplied to an engine burner .

FIG. 3 shows through functional blocks an electric power generation system 300 comprising the apparatus for the production of gaseous hydrogen 400 (REACT) described above, an engine 500 (M) capable of producing a motive power connected to an alternator 600 ( ALT). The 500 engine is for example of the Wankel cycle or turbine type with an energy produced, for example from 5 to 30 kW / h.

The apparatus for the production of gaseous hydrogen 400 supplies the fuel (comburent and fuel) to the engine 500 which, using a burner, clearly produces to the technician in the sector a driving force which, transmitted to the alternator 600, allows generate electricity (for example, up to 5 kW / h).

This example described is suitable for the generation of energy in the home, such as, for example, the generation of electricity for powering the home network and the generation of heat for domestic heating. Nevertheless, the apparatus for the generation of gaseous hydrogen 400 in accordance with the teachings of the invention can be used for thermodynamic engines, cogenerators, turbines, burners or other users.

The described hydrogen production apparatus is particularly advantageous. The combined action of sonolysis, photolysis and electrolysis is extremely efficient. Furthermore, carrying out electrolysis on steam and not, as traditionally occurs, on water in the liquid state brings a considerable efficiency of Brown's gas production as the Applicant was able to experimentally evaluate.

The maintenance of Brown's gas in a separate form from water carried out in the second stage 200 by means of the combined action of heating (photopyrolysis), electromagnetic radiation and magnetic field has proved to be particularly advantageous.

It was found experimentally that after several days from its production the obtained Brown gas did not recombine. Furthermore, the possibility of adding comburent through the action of the plasma generator 25 makes the hydrogen production apparatus immediately usable (on demand) to supply fuel to an engine. The fuel obtainable with the described apparatus is suitable for engines currently in use.

Claims (10)

Claims 1. Apparatus (100, 200, 400) for the production of gaseous hydrogen, comprising: a container (1) provided with an inlet (2, 3) for water; an acoustic wave generator (4) suitable for causing sonolysis in the water introduced into the container; a source of electromagnetic radiation (11) configured to cause photolysis in the water introduced into the container; a device for causing electrolysis (9, 10), arranged in succession to the acoustic wave generator and to the source of electromagnetic radiation; an outlet (26) for hydrogen in the gaseous state. 2. Apparatus (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a first heater (6) suitable for the vaporization of the water introduced into the container (1) to supply corresponding steam; said device for causing electrolysis (9, 10) being arranged so as to cause electrolysis on said vapor. Apparatus (100) according to claim 2, wherein said first heater is such as to cause pyrolysis, and wherein the acoustic wave generator (4), the source of electromagnetic radiation, the device for causing electrolysis and the heater being configured for the production from water of at least one of the following gases in addition to hydrogen: Brown's gas, ionized water vapor. 4. Apparatus (200) according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising a chamber (19) in which to receive a fluid resulting from electrolysis including hydrogen and at least one of Brown's gas and ionized water vapor; said chamber comprising means (16, 21, 20, 22, 23.27) for maintaining Brown's gas and hydrogen in separate form. Apparatus (200) according to claim 4, wherein said means for maintaining Brown's gas in separate form comprise: a second heater (16) of the inductive type; further sources of electromagnetic radiation (21, 22); separator elements (20) for channeling Brown's gas and bringing it closer to said further sources of radiation. Apparatus (200) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said means for maintaining Brown's gas in separate form comprise: at least one magnetic separator (23) capable of generating a magnetic field in said chamber such as to keep oxygen separated from hydrogen and Brown's gas. Apparatus (200) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein: said acoustic wave generator (4) comprises an ultrasound transducer with piezoelectric actuators; said source of electromagnetic radiation (11) comprises a laser device; said device for causing electrolysis comprises a plurality of grids (10) to which an electric potential difference is applied; said first and second heaters comprise a respective induction winding associated with a respective core to be heated. Apparatus (200) according to at least claim 4, further comprising: a duct (24) for the suction of ethyl comburent, gaseous or ionized vapor; a plasma generator (25) operatively associated with the suction duct which allows the vapor or comburent to be ionized. 9. Power generation system comprising: an apparatus (100, 200, 400) for the production of gaseous hydrogen; an apparatus for using said gaseous hydrogen for energy production; characterized in that said apparatus (100, 200, 400) for the production of gaseous hydrogen is made according to at least one of the preceding claims. System according to claim 9, wherein said utilization apparatus comprises at least one of the following devices: an engine, a turbine for the generation of motive power, a thermodynamic engine, a cogenerator, a burner.